Over time, the number of islands in Maryland has decreased. Rising sea levels have caused many islands in the Chesapeake Bay, including Sharps Island and Three Sisters Island, to disappear. Others, such as Smith Island, are in danger of being flooded.
The Department of Natural Resources has developed a program that conserves areas along the coast, including marshlands, that serve as natural buffers against tidal surges and erosion.
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© Copyright July 21, 2014 Maryland State Archives